Google ‘searching for new premises’

The tech giant currently operates from three locations in Sydney.
Photo: Bloomberg

by
Mercedes Ruehl

Google has set tongues wagging in the office sector, with the search engine giant pegged as the mystery client behind one of the biggest briefs for a new office building in years.

Paragon Project Management released an expressions of interest document this week for an anonymous client seeking sites in Sydney between 45,000 and 60,000 square metres. It is one of the largest inquiries in the city since Westpac came to the market in 2010.

“We don't comment on rumours or speculation," a Google spokesperson said when contacted by AFR Weekend.

The brief says the key requirements are for the Sydney CBD or within 10 kilometres of the Sydney General Post Office, a landmark building in the city.

Industry sources canvassed other options as tenants, including AMP or Commonwealth Bank of Australia, but said Google is the most logical.

The global tech company occupies three locations in Sydney, comprising about 20,000 square metres.

The key office is at GPT Group’s Workplace 6 in Pyrmont, where its lease expires in 2018.

Google also subleases two floors at the Pyrmont office of Fairfax Media, publisher of AFR Weekend.

As part of its expansion into Fairfax Media’s offices last year, the company famously inserted two old Sydney Monorail carriages into the building through a balcony.

Others did not discount that it could be another company.

AMP
was one name that was suggested. The company is midway through planning approval for its $1 billion revamp of its commercial towers and headquarters at 50 Bridge Street. It is understood AMP will only grant leases up to the end of 2017.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia
was also named as a possibility, but it is believed the bank is already negotiating its needs at Darling Park.